Online gaming is becoming such a problem in Asia that so-called 'addicts' could soon be sent to rehab, reports Reuters.

The government in South Korea has designed clinics to help wean gamers away from their PCs, after reports that the increasing popularity of online games is creating a new generation of addicts.

Stories appearing in newspapers across Asia reveal that many gamers are going to extreme lengths to fund their gaming habit. People have quit jobs to spend more time online, robberies have been committed to fund trips to Internet cafes and one man even died of heart failure after spending 50 hours playing a game called 'StarCraft'.

Analysts estimate that 1-2 per cent of gamers in South Korea could be suffering from the addiction.

The report also details how government officials have stepped in to offer support to addicts and are in talks with developers to create advisory patches to warn gamers of the downfalls of excessive play.

The online game industry in South East Asia is booming, with an estimated value of $1.1 billion.

Brits also seem to be turning into a nation of techno-addicts, earlier this year researchers found that 62 per cent are addicted to checking their email and 66 per cent of 15-24 year olds cannot bear to be parted from their mobiles.